Hartsel, Colorado

How you get to Morgan Peak and the other 13ers in the area depends on if you have a 4-wheel drive with good clearance or not. If so, drive the rough Santa Fe road from the small town of Montezuma (just outside Keystone). The road is also known as Forest Service 264 and is a left at the stop sign ...

Pikes Peak Toll Road can grant you access to a ton of super accessible backcountry skiing if you have the equipment and knowledge.  From roughly Glen Cove up to the summit of the mountain you can access terrain varying from steep chutes off the summit to easy glades in an abandoned ski resort.  T...

Guanella Pass, which connects the charming and historic town of Georgetown in the north to the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it Grant to the south, is a recreational outdoorsman’s dream. Volumes could be written on what this 22-mile scenic byway has to offer. Silver Dollar Lake Trail is just one tiny po...

Fowler-Hilliard hut sits at 11,500 ft on a forested ridge of Resolution Mountain, with easy access to intermediate and expert backcountry skiing right out the door. This newer hut was built in 2010 after the original hut burned down from a lightning strike. The hut comes stocked with padded mattr...

The trailhead is to the Independence Pass viewing deck is located at the Summit parking area, which is about 20 miles from Aspen and 24 miles west of Highway 24 on the Leadville side. At the parking area you will notice a paved walkway that takes you to the viewdeck, which is a easy five minute w...

Reynolds Park is part of the Jefferson County Open Space system. Located a few miles south of Conifer, off Hwy 285 on S. Foxton Road, it is a foothills park geared for families, groups, and the casual hiker. The network of trails on the west side of the road offers hikers and equestrians anything...

While a typical Colorado hike may be an ascent to your destination followed by a descent back to your car, the hike to Grizzly Peak at Loveland Pass (Grizzly Peak "D") breaks that mold. At 13,427 feet, Grizzly Peak stands in the path to Torreys Peak’s west face (14,267’). Even though it is only ~...

While the Mt. Evans Wilderness never has a shortage of visitors, thanks to its proximity to Denver, it is possible to find a more private hike if you know where to look. Lincoln Lake Trail, accessible from Echo Lake year-round, is not as glamorous as its sister trail, Chicago Lakes, but is a wond...

September is famous in Colorado for clear, deep blue skies,sublimely perfect temperatures, and gold-digging – of the leaf variety, thatis. On September 9, wildflower season was recently past and the best of theleaves were yet to come, but it was the perfect, clear and sunny day to checkout the hi...

In summer, Stevens Gulch Road, the access point to Grays Peak and Torreys Peak, is typically packed with adventurers intent on summiting a 14er or two. Once the snow comes, this unmaintained road becomes impassible, and the once busy lane transforms into a silent and pristine haven for snowshoers...

Betty Bear and Skinner Huts reside deep in the Colorado backcountry surrounded by thick forests and snowy peaks. Both of these huts offer an opportunity for off-grid leisure and crowd-free skiing. The huts come stocked with padded mattresses, wood stoves & fuel, propane burners, all cookware ...

The Argentine Central Railroad Grade trail is just what it says: it follows the old rail bed of the Argentine Central line. All railway remnants have long since been removed, and in its place is a wide, well-defined trail with an easy grade. With just a 900-foot incline over the course of about t...

With a name like 7:30 Mine Road, this is one hike I had to investigate to see if it lives up to its name. Even though this is an easier hike than I normally choose, what it lacks in challenging terrain, it makes up for in historic interest. The view isn’t too bad, either.7:30 Mine Road is about t...

A popular wildflower hike in summer, Herman Gulch is arguably even prettier covered in snow. The north-south trail offers views of the impressive Mount Sniktau to the south and Pettingell Peak to the north--with much to see along the way. Officially, the trail weaves in and out of the forest and ...

Despite sharing a trailhead with the popular Herman Gulch, I had not heard of Watrous Gulch until I stumbled across it while researching something else. Knowing that Herman Gulch is filled with spectacular views and deep snow ideal for snowshoeing/skiing, I had to discover if the smaller, lesser-...

What's not to love - you'll be skiing in the off season! We did this hike/ski in late June, our skis, boots, and avi gear packed with our hiking shoes on our feet. May could potentially be the most opportune time for this adventure. The hike you will take is the traditional Notch Mountain Hike. T...